On September 17, 2024, on the occasion of his 74th birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Subhadra Yojana. This flagship scheme, initiated by the Government of Odisha, is set to become a landmark in women's empowerment in the state. It aims to cover more than 1 crore women and provide them with a comprehensive financial safety net. Through this scheme, more than 10 lakh women have already received direct fund transfers into their bank accounts. The scheme’s goal is to empower women by providing them with financial support, promoting their well-being, and ensuring their active participation in society.
What is Subhadra Yojana?
The Subhadra Yojana is a financial assistance scheme designed to support eligible beneficiaries aged between 21 and 60 years. Under this scheme, recipients will receive a total of Rs. 50,000 over a period of five years, starting from the financial year 2024-25 until 2028-29. The aid will be distributed annually, with Rs. 10,000 credited to the beneficiary’s bank account in two equal installments each year. The payments will be transferred directly to Aadhaar-linked, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)-enabled accounts, ensuring a smooth and transparent disbursement process.
Goals and Objectives of Subhadra Yojana
Subhadra Yojana is designed to empower women across multiple dimensions of their lives. Its primary goals include providing financial assistance to enhance women's economic independence, raising awareness about their rights to ensure better health and educational outcomes, and fostering entrepreneurship and financial literacy, particularly in digital transactions. Additionally, the scheme aims to support women's personal and professional growth, positioning them as key decision-makers within their households and communities.
Objectives:
The scheme is built on the following objectives:
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Financial Support: Providing a safety net for women and their families to uplift their socio-economic status.
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Income Support: Offering direct income support to eligible women, thereby acknowledging and enhancing their role as valuable contributors to society.
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Health and Education: Improving health, nutritional, and educational outcomes for women and their families, creating a holistic approach to empowerment.
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Financial Inclusion: Promoting financial independence for women by facilitating access to banking and encouraging the use of digital platforms for transactions.
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Digital Literacy: Equipping women with the knowledge and tools to participate in digital financial systems, thereby reducing their dependency on cash-based transactions.
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Empowerment in Decision Making: Encouraging women to take part in decision-making processes both at the personal and community levels, fostering opportunities for their personal and professional growth.
Benefits Under Subhadra Yojana
The Subhadra Yojana offers a variety of benefits aimed at ensuring long-term support for women:
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Subhadra Card: Every beneficiary will receive a Subhadra Card, which serves as both an ATM and debit card. This will provide them with easy access to their funds and help create a sense of identity and empowerment.
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Financial Assistance: Eligible women will receive a total of Rs. 50,000 over a five-year period, with Rs. 10,000 distributed annually. This support will be provided in two installments of Rs. 5,000 each, one on Rakhi Purnima and the other on International Women’s Day.
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Digital Transactions Incentive: To promote digital literacy, the government has launched a rewards program for women who make the highest number of digital transactions. 100 women from each Gram Panchayat (GP) or Urban Local Body (ULB) will receive an additional Rs. 500 as a reward for their participation.
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Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): The scheme will ensure that funds are transferred directly into beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, promoting transparency and reducing leakage.
Target Beneficiaries and Coverage
The scheme is targeted at women across all 30 districts of Odisha and will be operational from 2024-2025 to 2028-2029. It seeks to cover any woman who meets the eligibility criteria, ensuring widespread support for women in the state.
Eligibility Criteria
To avail the benefits of the Subhadra Yojana, women must meet the following criteria:
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Residency: The applicant must be a resident of Odisha.
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Income & Food Security: The woman should either be covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) or the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS). If not, her family income must be less than Rs. 2.50 lakh annually.
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Age: The applicant must be between 21 and 60 years of age. The scheme will calculate the exact eligibility based on the date of birth recorded in the Aadhaar card.
Women who do not meet the age requirements for the scheme or whose families already receive financial assistance above Rs. 18,000 annually will be considered ineligible.
Identification of Beneficiaries
Eligible women will need to apply either online through the Subhadra Yojana portal or offline using printed forms available at various local centers such as Anganwadi centers, block offices, and MO Seba Kendras. The government will verify all applications using its database and field inquiries where necessary. The Aadhaar card information will be crucial for identity verification and to prevent any discrepancies.
Ensuring Financial Inclusion
One of the key components of the Subhadra Yojana is promoting financial inclusion. Women must have an Aadhaar-linked, single-holder bank account to receive benefits. If an applicant does not have such an account, the government will provide assistance in opening one and completing the necessary formalities to make it Aadhaar-enabled and DBT-enabled.
Monitoring and Evaluation
To ensure efficient delivery and monitoring, the Subhadra Yojana will establish a State Level Steering and Monitoring Committee (SLSMC). This committee will oversee policy implementation, monitor progress, and address bottlenecks in the scheme’s execution. Additionally, the government will track the scheme’s impact and effectiveness through a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
The Subhadra Yojana is a broad and far-reaching scheme aimed at empowering women in Odisha. With its focus on financial inclusion, personal growth, and entrepreneurship, the Subhadra Yojana aligns with the broader vision of a more inclusive and empowered society.
